Why Your Blog Still Matters

Hello! I'm Charlotte, and I'm the founder of Blog and Beyond. I'm a slightly sarcastic 23-year-old grandma from Glasgow who loves The Sims, Hugh Laurie and programmes about airports. I've been blogging at Colours and Carousels for over eight years and am passionate about helping other bloggers grow.Blog - Twitter - Instagram - Blogger Coaching

In the age of social media, it can be all too tempting to abandon your site in favour of platforms like Twitter and Instagram. Sure, Instagram is all the rage, and it's where a lot of the money is these days - but having a blog is still pretty important if you want to call yourself a "blogger".

Yes, social media is great, and I love a good Instagram grid as much as the next person, but it's not the be all and end all of your online presence as a blogger. It's incredible to see so many amazing people building empires through social media, but my blog will always be my main focus for that side of my business.

Why does it matter?

My main issue is ownership and control. We've all seen how fast social media can change. Look at Facebook, for example. When I started using Facebook back in 2007 it was a completely different landscape to what it looks like now. Things change quickly, and who knows what will happen next.

It's all too easy for platforms like Instagram to just delete your account with very little warning if they think you're breaking their terms of use. A lot of the reporting processes are "manned" by artificial intelligence which, let's face it, isn't always all that intelligent. Account recovery can be a long, laborious process and it's notoriously difficult to get in touch with the big networks.

There's an element of creative control in there as well. Certain types of content typically perform better on different platforms. It's more often than not a psychological thing, and there are some really clear trends when it comes to places like Instagram and Pinterest. Your blog is your space to create the content you want to create in the way you want to create it.

It's getting harder and harder to grow on social these days. Algorithms and general attitudes mean that discovery is down, and engagement isn't always as easy as it used to be. Social media accounts offer very little in terms of SEO, and the chances of someone organically discovering your content are slim. We're relying on shout outs and sharing, which isn't necessarily the most sustainable model.

Your blog gives you flexibility and another format to work in. Yes, short-form content is on the up, but there is still a space for longer-form content out there too. Not everything works in 240 characters, sometimes you just need more room to breathe. Longer content gives your audience more of a chance to connect with you, and those connections help you build long-lasting relationships.

What does that mean for you, though?

The crux of the matter is - if you fancy yourself as a blogger, don't forget about your blog. Sounds simple, right? If you want to be an Instagram influencer then sure, Instagram is your bag and that's totally cool. I'll always be about the words though, taking pretty pictures is just a bonus outlet for me.

Social media is still important. Most of my traffic comes from social media, and it gives me a chance to share even more of my life, my personality and my thoughts. I see social media as a tool for building my brand, but at the end of the day, it all comes back to my blog.So whilst hitting the next milestone on Instagram is all fine and dandy, my blog will always be top of the priority list for me.